Write about something ordinary that’s inspiring to you, something simple, perhaps overlooked, that fuels your activism. Write about the things you couldn’t live without – list 10 things you need or love most. I’m not sure about anyone else, but I felt – and some times, still do – feel incredibly lonely ‘suffering’ with my Crohn’s. It as if once I get a hold on things, some thing comes along and knocks me sideward and upset the balance. And its taken, and does take, alot of strength to remain in control and keep the balance tipped slightly in my favour. That undeniable,…

“The flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and most beautiful of all.” – Mulan. True or false? When do you bloom best? As chronic illness sufferers, we have had to suffer through some tough times. What feels tough to one person, might not be the same for the next person. And that indeed is true within the chronic illness community and the Crohn’s community. It is all so individual. So, in some way, shape or form, we have all had difficult periods in our lives. Be it before illness, during diagnosis or through turbulent periods of ill-health.…

Write about a time that you lashed out at someone close to you because of frustration / fear / anger resulting from your health condition and you wish you could take it back. Forgive yourself and let it go. On the flip side, write about a time that someone said something to you that they wished they could take back. Did you forgive them? Why or why not? In last year’s HAWMC I wrote candidly about acceptance and Crohn’s Disease. Most of the posts reflected my feelings towards anxiety and fear in being accepted once again because of this invisible…

Today, April 16th, is my 25th birthday. Now, more than ever in my life, I get told I do not look my age. Currently, many people think I am hovering around the 20 mark. This has provided my parents with much glee, as they get told they are not old enough to have a 25-year-old daughter. I guess that makes up for all the times when they were always told they were not “old enough” nor “prepared enough” to have a very sick daughter. I can’t help but feel wistful today. Mostly because there isn’t a day that goes by…

Introduce your condition(s) to other Health Activists. What are 5 things you want them to know about your condition/your activism? Share links to 3-5 of your old posts (or posts from other Health Activists!) that you think will help the newly diagnosed. Hi, My name is Louise. I have Crohn’s Disease. I’ve not had it for all that long but it feels like forever, because every week, every day, there is potentially something new that is going on or going wrong. Trying to catch up wit this bitch is hard hard work. It is exhausting. I have what is called…